Advanced Placement (AP) English Literature Practice Exam

Which literary device calls up sensory experiences in a reader?

1. Figurative language

2. Imagery

3. Fable

4. Genre

The correct answer is: Imagery

Imagery is the literary device that effectively conjures sensory experiences in a reader. By utilizing descriptive language, it appeals to the senses—sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell—allowing readers to visualize and feel what is being described. This sensory engagement immerses the audience in the text, making the experience more vivid and impactful. For instance, when an author describes a scene with lush details of a sun-drenched meadow, the imagery enables readers to see the colors, feel the warmth, and perhaps even smell the flowers. Such evocation enriches the reader's understanding and emotional connection to the imagery presented in the narrative. Other choices such as figurative language, while useful for creative expression, do not specifically focus on sensory experiences in the way that imagery does. Fables, on the other hand, are moral tales often involving animals, and genre pertains to the categories of literature, neither of which directly invokes sensory engagement in the reader. Consequently, imagery stands out as the device most dedicated to enriching the sensory experience.